Box-nailing machine



vIE. C. NORTHRUP.

Box NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLED NOV-1l|vI9l9- 1,428,778. Patented Ju1 25, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G O O G O 0 0 0 O O O 0 e O 0 0 0 9 O 0 1 IN V EN TOR. E /m er 6. Mvr/Arap 4L} ATTORNEYS.

E. C. NURTHRUP.

BOX NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV: 1|. 1919 1,423,778. Patented July 25, 1922.

6 SH1S--SHEET 2.

INV NTOR.

va ATTORNEYS.

E. C. NORTHRUP.

BOX NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, I1. 1919.

Patented July 25, 1922.

6 SHEEIS-SHEEI 4.

INVENTOR. E/me/ C. lnvrflzrup #Lfd ATTORNEYS.

BOX NAlLlNG MACHINE.

APPucATmN HLED NOV. 11, 1919.

Patented July 2", 1922.

6 SHEE'ISSHEET 5.

. INVENTOR.

l6 SHEEISSHEET 6.

INVEN TOR. 3 E/lzvw C flrf/fhlp l ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 25, 1922.

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BOX-NAILING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented July 25, 1922.

Application filed November 11, 1919. Serial' Ko. 337,245.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, EILMER C. NOBTHRUP, a cltizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and countyof San Francisco and Stateof California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Box- Nai ling Machine, of which the following is a s ecification.

y invention relates to mechanism for nailing boxes.

An object of the invention is to provide a box nailmg machine in which supports for the box during the nailing operations are provided at different levels, together with means automatically operating, for controlling the movements of these supports.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the table on which the box supports are arranged.

The invention possesses many other'objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is'illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims. 1 Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the box nailing machine of my invention. Figure 2' is' aright side elevation of the machine, certain of the parts being omitted for greater clearness. Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the machine, the upper bracket being omitted. Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the machine and is taken in the plane 4-& of Figure 3. Figure 5' is a horizontal sectional view taken in'the plane 55 of Figure 1. Figure 6isa. left side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5.' Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane 7-7 of Figural. Figures 8.,

9 and 10 are right side elevations of portions of the machine, showing a box during the three nailing operations. Figure 11 is a front elevation of two of the feed arms and related mechanism. Figure 12 is a right side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 11. Figures 13 and 14 are-plan views of portions of the nail chutes and show nail feeding means in two successive positions. Figure 15 is a left side elevation 1 driving means, so that such of the upper front portion of the machine, showing the nail feed operating means.

In broadly descriptive terms my box nailing machine comprises:

1. A frame upon which the various instrumentalities are mounted and co-ordinated to operate as a unit of mechanism.

2.- A table resiliently supported on the frame, and upon which automatically operated means are. provided for supporting the box in different positions in three successive nailing operations, during which one side,

the bottom, and the opposite side of the box are nailed to the ends.

3. A hammer block, mounting multiple hammers for driving the nails from the chucks into the box, and also adjustably spaced nail chucks for holding the nails immediately prior to driving, together with means for suspending the nail chucks from the hammer block, so that the initial driving movement of the hammer block is accompanied bythe gravital engagement of the chucks with the shook about to be nailed fast to the ends.

4. Power driven. means, the action of which is pedally initiated for actuatingthe hammer block. I e

' 5. Means for automaticallydisconnecting the power supplying means'from the hammer block actuating means at the conclusion of each nailing operation; and automatically operating means for controlling the momentum of the movin arts of the rlving means will come to rest in substantially the same position after each nailing operation.

, 6. Means for feeding nails to all or cermm of the chucks as required for each nailin operation.

%Inder subtitles briefly identifying these groups and in the same order, will now describe the construction of my device in detai Frame-The frame of themachilrie coinprises a bed plate 2 adapted to rest on thethe (ill

till

justable, by means of the threaded collar 14:. in the socket 16 arranged on the bed plate 2. The upper end of the post 13 passes slidably through t a center of the table and is threaded for the nuts 17. A heavy spring 18 is interposed between the bottom of the table and the collar19 on the post. Thus the table is resiliently mounted and gives slightly from its adjusted level during the operation of the machine to compensate for variations in the material or adjustments, which would otherwise result in damage to the structure. Means are provided on the table for sup porting the ends of the box at three difierent levels during the operation of nailing on the sides and bottom. Figures 8, 9 and respectively show a box in the three successive positions. Longitudinally of the machine that is. from left to right of Figure 1, the top of table 12 is provided with ways upon which are secured plates 21 and 22 spaced apart in accordance with the length of the box to be handled in the machine. Pivoted on the plates 21 and 22 by parallel links 23 are the bars at which support the box parts during the first and third nailing operation. The supports 24 are retained in the first position shown in Figure 8 by a cppnterweight 26 integral with each of the rear links. and a stop 27 on each of the plates 21 and 22 against which the front inks are pressed hy the counterweight-s. Since the links in this position slant forward slightly the weight of each support also tends to retain against the stop, and any downward thrust upon the supports merely holds them the tighter. As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the ends 28 of the box are inserted with end resting on the supports 24 preparatory to the nailing of the side shock 29. In the third nailing operation in which the shook 30 is nailed the sup ports must be lower by an amount equal to the thickness of the shook first nailed, and this is accomplished by pushing the partly formed box onto the supports against the stops 31 which are spaced inwardly of the supports so as to engage the rear edge of the shock 29, without however interfering with the placing of the ends 28 in the first nailing operation. Continued pressure after the edge of the shook engages the stops, swings the supports 2%- rearwardly and downwardly on the links 23 into the osition shown in Figure 10 maintaining tie parallelism of the supports with their first position. The extent of such movement is controlled by the adjusting screws 32 which'impinge upon the lugs 33 on the rear edges of the plates.

The second nailing operation in which the bottom shook'fi l is nailed to the ends requires the ends to be supported at a higher lever as shown in Figure 9. This is accomplished by providing on each side a supporting plate 35, laterally slidable into and out of the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, where they are in position to receive the ends of thebox. Extending upwardly from each plate 21 and 22 is a post 36 upon which a ledge 37 is slidably secured. Vertical adjustment of the ledges is made by a screw 38 threaded through the plate, the ledge being supported by both the screw and post 36. Pins 39 fixed in each ledge engage slots 40 angularly disposed across the plates 35, so that movement of the plates toward the rear also carries them laterally toward each other. to the extended position shown in the dotted lines; and movement of the plates toward the front retracts them. A. stop 41 is arranged at the rear of each plate to position the box ends thereon. A spring 42 interposed between each plate 35 and one of pins 39 tends to extend the plates, and means are provided, operating automatically after the second nailing operation, (during which the box ends rest on the extended plates) for retracting the plates holding them retracted during the third nailing operation and the first nailing operation on the succeeding box, and then permitting the springs 42 to extend the plates for the second nailing op eration. Pivotally mounted at the rear of each ledge is a lever as having a roller ll adapted to bear against the rear edge 46 of the plate. Each lever is provided with a linger 4-? and a pin or lug 48, and a bar 49 is arranged longitudinally across the machine on the two levers, the connection with the levers being a slidable one to permit longitudinal movement of the plates 21 and 22 for different length boxes. Pins 50, Figure 7,* engaging the posts 3 and '1'": prevent longitudinal disengagement of the bar. The bar 4-9 is moved t'orwardly, pressing the levers against the plates 35 and causing their retraction, by means of a vertically arranged link 51 pivotally mounted on inks 52 which are pivoted to the frame member 3. The lower end of the link engages an interrupted flange or cam 53 on the gear 54: driven by pinion 56 on shaft 57. When the link is engaged by the periphery of the flange it is moved forwardly (to the left of Figure 2) and upwardly, engaging the lug 49*, thus pushing the bar 49 forwardly and retracting the supporting plates 35. l/Vhen the end of the link 51 drops Ofi of the flange end, it moves downwardly and rearwardly relieving the pressure onthe bar as and permitting the springs 42 to extend the plates. The cam 53 is so disposed and proportioned that in the operation of the machine, the forward pressure on the bar4=9 is released following the first nailing operation so that the springs as are permitted to extend the supporting plates 35 for the second nailing operation. Followin the second nailing operation pressure on t e bar is again exerted and maintained until after the next first nailing 0poration, thus keeping the plates out of the way and permitting the lower supports 2 1 to be used.

The correct spacing of the box ends28 is secured by guide-arms 59, Figure 5, adjustable longitudinally of the machine and socured to cross piece 6 of the frame by bolts 80 passing through the arm base plates 61 which also serve as rear stops for the box ends during the first and third nailing operation and for the bottom shook during the second nailing operation. On the inside of one of the arms 59 is a plate 62 loosely secured to the arm at the rear end by screw' 63 and tied thereto at the front end by screw 64. A flat spring 66 resiliently holds the plate outwardly from the arm 59 in the position shown. A spring clamp for holding the box end against the plate 62 is formed by the pressure foot 67 mounted on the base plate 62 and resiliently pressed against the box end by the spring 68 interposed between the foot and the head of a stud 69 which passes through an aperture in the foot. Thus of pivota-lly mounte spring-held fingers 71- are arranged on the ugper inside edge of the left-hand arm 59. ormally, these fingers extend upwardly and form sto s against which the operator pushes t e shook. They are pressed downwardly out of the,way, however by the chucks 72 descending prior to the driving of the nails.

'Ham'mer block and ohucks'.Slidably mounted on the flanged edge 73 of the frame posts 7 and 8 is the hammer block 74, adapted to be reciprocated by connecting rods 76, one of which is arranged on each end of the hammer block as shown in Figure 1, and which are actuated by cranks 77 on the shaft 57. Secured to the hammer 'block by bolts 78, and adjustable thereon, in

accordance with the length of the box being made,, by a screw 79, are. hammer brackets 81 upon which hammers 82 are adiustably arranged by means of the slotted head 83 engaging the correspondingly formed edge 'of the hammer bracket 81 and retained therein by the plate 84.. The ends of the hammers extend into chucks. 72 of known construction into whichgnails are fed as needed. Each chuck is provided with a bolt 87 adapted to engage in, a T-slot formed in the chuck bracket 88, so that the chucks may be spaced to givecthe desired spacing of the'nails. The chuck bracket is formed with a centrally disposed arm 89 which forms a sliding fit with ways formed in the hammer bracket 81. A pin 91- prevents the chuck bracket from falling out of the hammer bracket, and normally, the chuck brackat is gravitally supported in the hammer bracket by the pin. During the initial nail driving movement of the hammer block, the chuck bracket, suspended therefrom moves downwardly withit, until the chucks seat upon the shook where they remain while the hammer block and hammers continue downwardly to drive the nails home, the arm 89 sliding in the hammer bracket. On the upward stroke of the hammer block the chuck bracket is picked up and carried upwardly therewith when the pin 91 engages the top of the hammer bracket. In order to drive the nails at a slight angle, both the hammer block ways and the chuck bracket ways are inclined at the desired angle as shown in-Figure 2. The construction and mounting of the chuck bracket .with a single arm 89 is of particular advantage in that jamming due to side stresses is entirely obviated.

, Ham-mer driving means.-Journalled in suitable "bearings arrangedon the bed plate of the frame is the main driving shaft .92, upon which a driving pulley 93 is rotatably mounted. The pulley is connected by a belt 94 with any suitable source of power. Interposed between the pulley and the shaft 92 is a clutch mechanism of known form including. the sleeve 96 splined upon the shaft,

. and longitudinally movable thereon by .means of the yoke 97 operated by the'pedal 98. A pinion'99 on the shaft 92 drives gear 101 on the shaft 57 on. which the hammer block operating cranks 77 are fixed. Downward pressure on the pedal 98 therefore engages the clutch mechanism with the pulley. and causes the shafts 92 and 57 to rotate, the latter shaft at relatively low speed. One revolution of the shaft 57 lowers the hammer block to drive the nails in the chucks and raises it again to firstposition.

Means for disconmecting the aMm'ng pulley and bmke.-Since each nailing operation must be followed by a shifting of the box ends and the insertion of additional shooks,

it is desirable to bring the operation of the nail driving mechanisms to a halt immediately following each nailing operation.

Furthermore the moving parts should come to rest in substantially the same position each time, with the cranks 77 at the top of their stroke. Fixed rigidly on the shaft 57- 96 in the disengaged position, the arm end 9 lies just belowand to oneside of the lug 104. With the throwing in of the clutch, the sleeve moves over (to the left of Figure 4) and the cam surface 103 then lies in the path of the arm 102 which simultaneously began to rotate with the shaft 57. Nearing the end of one complete revolution of the shaft 57, the arm end engages the cam surface and forces the yoke to the right gof Figure 4) thus freeing the clutch.

raking means are also brought into operation at this moment for controlling the momentum of the rotating parts. Fixed on the shaft 92 is a brake drum 105 adapted to be frictionally engaged by the pivoted brake lever 106 curved to fit the drum and provided with a suitable lining. A bell-crank lever 107 is pivotedto the frame and provided with a roller 108 on one of its arms bearing on the crank arm 77 which in this relation acts as a cam to impart motion to the lever 107. The other arm 107* of the bell-crank lever is provided with an adjust-' able screw 109 adapted to engage a spring pressed pin 111 held in the end of the brake lever. Thus rotation of'the crank arm 77 to its top stroke position operates the lever 107 and resiliently forces the brake 106 against the drum. The degree of resilient top of their stroke and the hammer block in the raised position as shown in Figure 2. N ail feeding mama-The machine may be arranged to drive any desired number of nails ateach end of the box. The drawings show a machine with twelve chucks and capable of driving six nails ata time through each end of a shook. The box shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 requires three nails in each end of the side shooks, andfive nails in each end of the bottom. Means are therefore provided for feeding nails to the nail chucks in accordance with the need of the nailing mechanism and no nails are fed to chucks from which a'nail is not to be driven on the next succeeding nailing operation.

Fixed on the cross arm 9 of the frame is a bracket 113 in which a series of nail chutes 114 are arranged in a known manner. A

nail box 116 of known construction into which the supply of nails is thrown is pivoted to the bracket 113 and oscillatedto shake thenails into thechutes, by a rod 117 com nected to a crank 118 fixed on the shaft 119 which is rotated by the sprocket wheel 121. A chain 122 connects this sprocket with sprocket 123 on shaft 124 with the large gear 126 which meshes with a pinion 127 arranged on the side of the driving pulley 93. Thus the nail-box 116 is oscillated by the rotating ,pulley 93 irrespective of the operation of the other mechanism so that the nail chutes are kept filled. Below the end of each chute is a funnel 128 adjustably secured to the bracket 113. In the present instance there are twelve funnels and six of them are connected by flexible conductors 129 to the nail chucks on each chuck bracket.

Pivotally mounted on the bracket 113 in front of the lower end of each nail chute is a feed arm 131, the upper. end of which is formed to provide a cam 132 to be engaged by a roller 133, disposed on a pin- 134 set in a shaft 136. The shaft is journalled in bearings arranged on the bracket 113 and is given an intermittent rotary motion by means of the pawl 137, Figure 15, which is oscillated upon the threeoint ratchet 138 by the rod 139 connecte to the hammer block. Figure '11 shows the shaft 136 midway between stops. With each one-third revolution of'the shaft, the arm 131 is rocked in a clockwise direction against the pull of the spring 141, from the position shown by the arm 131, Figure 11, across the end of the associated nail chute, and then allowed to return to first position. Secured to the arm 131 by screw 142 is a flat spring 143, prevented from rotating on the screw by guard pieces 144. The end 146 of the spring is bent at right angles and .50 disposed. as to lie in front of and slightly spaced from a wedge point finger 147 adjustably secured to the lower end of the arm. 131 by a clamp nut 148. With the rocking of the arm as the roller. 133 moves upon the cam 132, the pointed finger 147, which normally lies across the end of the nailchute as shown in F igure'14 and at the right of Figure 11, is first withdrawn to a position shown in Figure 13, and at the left of Figure .11, allowing the leading nail 148 to slide downwardly against the end 146 of the spring arm 143, which moved across the chute as the arm 147 was withdrawn. The parts are now in the position shown at the left of Figure 11. As the roller 133 leaves the cam 132, the lower end of the arm moves back to first position, the wedge point of finger 147 intercept-ing the second nail 149 and the lead ing nail 148 dropping out of the end of the chute into the associated funnel, as soon as the end 146 of the spring arm clears the chute. Every time the roller 133 rocks the arm 131, the wedge point and spring arm co-operate to release the leading nail in the chuteand permit it to fall into the funnel below, and since three shooks are to be'nailed in any given box, three nails must be fed to each funnel connected with a chuck which is active in each nailing operation. By active chuck I mean a. chuck from which a nail is to be driven during the next following nailing operation. Therefore I provide three rollers 133 spaced about the shaft 136 at 120 degree intervals, and with each downward movement of the hammer block, the shaft 136 is turned by the ratchet 138 through one-third of a revolution, moving a roller 133 across the cam 132 to rock the arm 131 and releasing a nail into the chuck for the next following nailing operation accomplished by the next downward movement of the hammer block. Assuming the first nail in a chuck which is to be active for all three nailing operations, the first downward movement of the hammer block drives the first nail and releases a second nail which falls into the chuck, the second downward movement of the hammer block drives the second nail and releases a third. The third movement of the hammer block drives the third nail and releases the fourth which is the first one. for the next box.

Since each roller 133 associated with a given feed arm 131 controls the release or feed of a nail for a corresponding nailing operation, it follows that by removing all three rollers. as in the case shown at the right of Figure 11, and at the right and left of Figure 1, the associated feed arm is not operative and the associated chucks are inactive. This is done to adapta machine for driving a less number of nails than its full capacity and is accomplished by removing the cotter pin 151 which normally retains the roller upon its pin. It is also clear that by removing one or two rollers of a set, the feeding of nails to the associated chuck may be controlled as desired. For instance the outer or 1st chuck 72, Figure 2, is inactive since no nail is driven from this chuck to form the five-nail box. shown, hence the as- .sociated rollers 133 for operating the feed armare removed. The Qndand 3rd chucks are active only for the nailing of the bottom shook-which requires five nails, hence two of the rollers 133 are removed from each of the associated sets, and that one in each set left, which operates the feedarm coincident with the descent of the hammer block in the first nailing operation, to release a nail for the second operation during which the bot- .tom shook is nailed. The 4th, 5th, and 6th chucks are active for all three nailing operations and the full set of rollers 133 is re-.

quired to operate each associated feed arm. ,I claim:

1. In a box nailing machine, a table, means for resiliently supporting the table, a plate slidably arranged on the table, means for supporting the box, and means pivotally connecting the supporting means to said plate whereby said supporting means is movable from one level to another.

2. In a box nailing machine. a table, means for resiliently supporting the table, a pair of plates slidably arranged on said table, a pair of parallel links pivoted to each of said plates, box supporting means carried -on said links, means for limiting the swinging movement of said box supporting means in either direction, and means for resiliently retaining said box supporting means at one extreme of its movement.

3. In a box nailing machine, a table, a pair of spaced ledges mounted on said table, means for supporting the box slidably mounted on said ledges, and automatically operated means for extending and retracting said supporting means.

4. In a box nailing machine, a table, a pair of posts adjustably spaced on said table, a ledge slidably mounted on each post, means for vertically adjusting the ledge upon the post, means for supporting the box slidably mounted on said ledges, and automatically operated means for extending said supporting means from said ledges to operative positions and for retracting said supporting means to inoperative positions.

5. In a box nailing machine, a table, a pair of posts adjustably spaced on said table, a ledge slidably mounted on each post, means for vertically adjusting the ledge upon the post, means for supporting the box slidably mounted on said ledges, a lever pivoted on each ledge operatively engaging the supporting means thereon, means connecting said levers for unifying their operation, and automatically operated means for moving said connecting means to actuate said levers.

6. In a box nailing machine, a table, a pair of posts adjustably spaced on said table, a ledge slidably mounted on each post, means for vertically adjusting the ledge 7 upon the post, means for supporting the 1 0 box slidably mounted on said ledges, a lever pivoted on each ledge operatively engaging the supporting means thereon, means connecting said levers for unifying their operation, automatically operated means for moving said connecting means to actuate said levers whereby the said supporting means are moved in one direction, and springs for moving the supporting means in the other direction.

7. In a box nailing machine, a table, a pair of posts adjustably spaced on said table, a ledge slidably mounted on each post, means for vertically adjusting the ledge upon the post, means for supportingthe box slidably mounted on said ledges, a lever pivoted on each ledge operatively engaging the supporting means thereon, means connecting said levers for unifying their operation,

a spring connected to each supporting means for extending it into operative position, and automatically operated means for actuating said levers to retract said supporting means into inoperative positions.

8. In a box nailing machine, a table, a pair of posts adjustably spaced on said table, a ledge slidably mounted on each post, means for vertically adjusting the ledge upon the post, pins fixed on each ledge, a plate for supporting the box and formed with diagonally disposed slots adapted to engage said pins slidably arranged on each ledge, a spring interposed between each plate and its ledge for extending said plate into operative position, a lever operatively engaging the end of each plate, and means for simultaneously actuating said levers to retract said plates into inoperative positions.

9. In a box nailing machine, a table, a pair of plates adjustably spaced on said table, means for supporting the box during two nailing operations arranged on each plate, means pivotally connecting each supporting means to its plate whereby said supporting means is movable from the level required in one nailing operation to the level required in the other nailing operation, a post on each-of said plates, a ledge on said post, means for supporting the box during another nailing operation slidably arranged on each ledge. and means for extending and retracting said last named supporting means to operative and inoperative positions respectively.

10. In a box nailing machine. a table, a pair of plates adjustably spaced on said table, means for supporting the box during two nailing operations arranged on each plate, means pivotally connecting each supporting means to its plate whereby said supporting means is movable from the level required in one nailing operation to the level required in the other nailing operation, a post on each of said plates, a ledge on each post, means for supporting the box during another nailing operation slidably arranged on each ledge, means for varying the level of the ledges on the posts, a lever pivoted on each ledge operatively engaging the supporting means thereon, means connecting said levers for unifying their operation, a vertically disposed link operatively engaging said connecting means, a cam for actuating said link to effect the movement of said last named supporting means to retracted positions, and a spring interposed between each ledge and its associated box supporting means for extending said supporting means from its ledge.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 22d day of October, 1919.

ELMER C. NORTHRUP.

In presence of.

C. S. EVANS. 

